Christina Samuels (she/her/hers) was born to a Jamaican mother with a penchant for what she calls “the nomadic life.” Christina has spent much of her time exploring the diverse experiences of the Black diaspora, both in the United States and abroad. She is committed to dismantling structural anti-Black racism and ensuring dignity for the LGBTQ+ community, and believes that quality housing, food, healthcare, and community self-determination are not political ideas but basic human rights.

Christina is the Deputy Executive Director of Programs for African Communities Together (ACT), where she develops strategies to sustain ACT’s programs and grow its impact. Before joining ACT, Christina worked in a range of for - and non-profit sectors and fields, most recently as director of South Bronx Rising Together, a cradle-to-career collective impact initiative working to improve outcomes for young people in the Bronx. She also serves on the North Star Fund’s Let Us Breathe Funding Committee, which distributes funds to Black-led grassroots advocacy groups in New York City and the lower Hudson Valley. She earned her Master of Arts degree in Anthropology & International Development from The George Washington University and a BA in Anthropology from The Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

When not advocating for social change, Christina enjoys cooking (with video calls to Mom to see if the dish “looks right”), traveling, and spending time with her partner, friends, dog, and cat.

To learn more about the Caribbean Equality Project & for regular updates on our work, connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube at @CaribbeanEqualityProject, and Twitter at @CaribEquality.